Go 17 June 2021

Thursday 17 J u n e, 202 1
GO!
& EXPRESS
FREE
PROJECT TO IMPROVE CHILDHOOD LITERACY PAGE 5
WAY TO GO
Huge BCM
ro a d w o r k s
p ro j e c t
underway
PAGE 4
SINCE 1995
UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
Fynbos housing
project criticised
PAGE 3
NSRI awarded for 1991 sea
re s c u e
SERVING
WITH
HONOUR:
East
London’s
NSRI
Station 7
award was
handed
over at
the AGM
P i c t u re :
SUPPLIED
CRUISING TO DISASTER: The wreck of the ‘Oceanos’ remains off the coast of Coffee Bay Picture: FILE/ HERALD
MATTHEW FIELD
East London’s Station 7 was
honoured at the NSRI
AGM held in Cape Town
last week, when the station
received a Meritorious Service
Award in recognition of their
work during the sinking of the
MTS Oceanos in 1991.
The Oceanos was a Greek
cruise ship which set out from
East London en route to Durban
under the command of Captain
Yiannis Avranas.
Shortly after departing, the
ship encountered harsh weather
conditions, including 40-knot
winds and swells of up to 9m.
Because of the rough
Set up operation centre — all 571 passengers were rescued
conditions, the Oceanos began
flooding and was found on
Saturday August 3 off the coast
of Coffee Bay.
“On the Saturday when the
ship got into difficulty, we were
called by our station
commander Paul Underwood,”
said former station commander
Geoff McGregor.
He said at first the team
reacted in disbelief but after
being assured of the seriousness
of the situation, they sprung into
action.
At the time, McGregor was
serving as a coxwain.
“Our Land Rover went up [to
Coffee Bay] and a lot of people
went up in their own
transportation because back
then, that was the only way we
could get there,” he said.
After getting clearance to
pass through the Transkei border
post that was situated at Kei
Mouth, the Station 7 team got to
wo r k .
McGregor said the storm
that had sunk the Oceanos wa s
still in full force.
“There were gale force
winds and rain, and trees
blowing across the road,”
he said.
“We were first-in-command
so we set up the site for the air
force, we got all the radios up
and running.
“We were first on the scene
but unfortunately we couldn’t
launch our rescue vehicle
because the sea was too big.”
Station 7 was eventually
joined by members of the SA Air
Force (SAAF) and together they
began to rescue the stranded
passengers. Sixteen helicopters
were used for the operation, 13
of which were Air Force Pumas.
The rescuers were also
assisted by the Dutch cargo ship
Nedlloyd Mauritius, which had
responded to the O c e a n o s’
distress call.
“Our main role was setting
up the whole operation centre
and running the centre until the
military and Air Force took
ove r,” McGregor said.
“I got there in the early hours
of Sunday [August 4] and got
home the following Tuesday
n i g h t .”
Thankfully, all 571 people
on board were rescued and it
was these efforts which earned
Station 7 their award.
“It was issued to the station
for outstanding services during
the rescue,” said McGregor.
Following the sinking,
Captain Avranas and other crew
members received heavy
criticism for allegedly
abandoning the passengers and
escaping without helping the
e va c u a t i o n .
They were later convicted of
negligence by a Greek board of
inquiry for their actions.
A lifeboat from the ill-fated
ship is still on display at the East
London Museum.
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2 GOT A NEWS STORY? Call our news desk on (043) 702 2125 or (043) 702 2046. Find us on Facebook 17 June 2021 GO & EXPRESS
Local record
label’s talent
search was
big success
CROSSWORD number 1234
Avela Meki’s poetry impressed the judges most
MATTHEW FIELD
East London-based record
label Vovee Music
Productions hosted their
Living the Dream talent search
at Ntabankulu in Alfred Nzo
District Municipality last week.
The competition, hosted in
collaboration with the local
municipality, saw many talented
individuals compete for the
grand prize of R30,000 in cash.
In the end, poet Avela Meki
emerged in the top spot with
hip-hop artist Manda Jx taking
second and artist Mbasa Mteki
in third.
“What we have witnessed
here today is nothing but
assurance that investing in our
girl child is not a waste,” said
Ntabankulu mayor Priscilla
Tsileng Sobuthongo.
“As a municipality, we value
and cherish the talents that our
young people possess and we
will continue funding this
programme so that your dreams
of being famous artists and
crafters can one day be a step
closer to being a reality.”
Vovee Music head Vovee
Batala said he was satisfied with
how the competition had turned
out and was proud of how the
community had rallied behind
the participants.
“Vovee Music believes that
in order for any artist to survive
in the industry, they need the
community behind them. In
most instances, we focus only
on the winner and forget about
the other two runners up. Even
A STAR IS BORN: Ntabankulu mayor Priscilla Tsileng
Sobuthongo congratulates poet Avela Meki on winning the
Living the Dream competition hosted by East London-based
record label Vovee Music Productions Picture: SUPPLIED
when we talk about the winner,
we do not consider that an artist
has the potential to create
employment opportunities for a
photographer, social media
manager, hair and make-up, the
list is endless.”
Meki said that she was
excited about her win.
“I want to thank my mom for
her unwavering support and
words of encouragement
throughout this competition,”
she said.
The winner of crossword # 1186 is: M e l i ssa
win a 1x 250g bag of coffee plus two free cappuccinos
Bo tt c h e r Co n g ra t u l a t i o n s !
Send in a completed, correct crossword for a chance to
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Drop off the crossword solution before 10am on Tuesday
at the Daily Dispatch building in Beacon Bay, or scan a
SOLUTION to Crossword number 1186
copy and e-mail it to go co n t est s @ a re n a . a f r i c a
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WIN!
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C C offe ee
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Contact the News Desk on (043) 7022125 or e-mail: goexpress@arena.africa
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T H U R S DAY
● The East London U3A offers
many interesting courses and
presentations every week. These
are on Zoom because of Covid-
19 restrictions. Membership
costs R50 yearly. Enquiries: Gill
at 083-651-7892
F R I DAY
● CROQUET: St Andrew's
Croquet Club (in the grounds of
the EL Golf Club, Bunker's Hill).
Play begins at 1:45pm every
Wednesday, Friday and
Saturday. Visitors are welcome.
Coaching available. Contact
Hugh Brathwaite 072-651-8514
● Comrades Club Dance from
6pm to10pm. Entry is R30 per
person. Cash bar and food
available. To book a table,
contact Peter at 084-954-0202
S AT U R DAY
● CROQUET: Typos Croquet
Club's playing times are 1:30pm
on Saturdays and 10am on
Wednesdays. Join the team for a
game or, alternatively, Rob and
Linda are available for training
sessions. Practice equipment
(mallets, etc.) available at no
cost. Call Linda on 083-579-
4085. Covid restrictions are
adhered to. Typos Club, Union
Avenue (near Clarendon High)
● Narcotics Anonymous. St
Nicholas Church, 22 Pell Street,
Beacon Bay. From 7pm to 8pm.
Call 083-900-6962
● Car Boot Sale at Cambridge
Bowling Club from 08.30am to
12.30pm. Covid regulations
apply. Enquiries: 067-041-2830
● GoNubie Saturday Stalls at
Municipal Buildings on
Gonubie Main Rd from
08.30am to12.30pm. Artworks,
baby items, clothing, crafts,
plants and more. Covid rules
apply. Organiser: 067-041-2830
● WAVESKI: Border Open. For
more details and venue, contact
082-929-8221
W E D N E S DAY
● Narcotics Anonymous. St
Nicholas Church, 22 Pell Street,
Beacon Bay. From 7pm to 8pm.
Call 083-900-6962
● Clear Round Jumping Show
at Manella Equestrian Yard.
R150 per horse, includes three
jumping rounds and ground
levy. Contact 082-719-8970
Send in a completed, correct crossword #1184 for a chance to win a 1x 250g bag of coffee
plus two free cappuccinos The winner valued of at last R100 week’s sponsored crossword by Cutman #& 1233 Hawk Coffee.
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GO! & EXPRESS 17 June 2021 For all your advertising needs call Cheryl (043) 702 2031. Find us on Facebook 3
Fynbos housing project
in an appalling state
SA Human Rights Council has
launched an investigation
MATTHEW FIELD
Controversy continues to
surround BCM’s ongoing
housing project in the
Fynbos area.
Speaking to the GO! &
Express, Friends of Schalk
spokesperson Claretta Slater
said the organisation had been
fighting the municipality over
the matter due to BCM’s poor
performance.
“Th e r e ’s about 200 of what
we call ‘fridges’–t e m p o ra r y
structures – in the Fynbos area,”
Slater said.
According to Slater, BCM
began erecting the structures on
two local sports fields which
drew the ire of community
members.
“BCM did not consult
communities, they simply came
and put their structures up on
the sports field.
“We ’ve asked for the zoning
papers, environmental impact
assessments, traffic flow studies
and so forth but BCM has not
given us anything back.”
After BCM had erected the
first set of temporary structures
on one of the sports fields,
Friends of Schalk took the
municipality to court and
managed to get a court order
which said BCM would have to
relocate the structures after two
ye a r s .
“Across from that same field,
BCM was in the process of
putting an additional 80
structures on another sport
f i e l d ,” Slater said. “We got a
court order to stop them.”
Another complaint was the
poor state of service delivery
being provided to the temporary
residents.
“There was constantly
running water, a huge waste,”
Slater said.
While communal toilets
have been installed, many are
broken and sewerage runs in the
gutters through the temporary
settlement.
The situation is so bad that
the SA Human Rights Council
has launched an investigation
into BCM’s handling of the
m a t t e r.
As previously reported by
the GO! & Express (‘Human
Rights Council investigating
BCM’, May 27), human
settlements minister Lindiwe
Sisulu said in October last year
that 45 of the 72 housing
projects in BCM were classified
as “running”.
She said that the poor
implentation of the projects was
due to a number of factors,
FALLING APART: Communal
toilets, above, erected by
BCM are in poor condition
and many don’t work at all
KICKING UP A STINK:
Sewerage runs through the
gutters, left, at the Fynbos
temporary housing project
PIctures: SUPPLIED
these included:
● Lack of integrated planning
between the provincial and
municipal government
● Delays in electricity
connection and beneficiary
ve r i f i c a t i o n
● Untraceable beneficiaries
● Poor performance of
contractors, and
● Ongoing illegal occupation
of housing units
BCM had not responded to
questions by the time of going
to print.

4 GOT A NEWS STORY? Call our news desk on (043) 702 2125 or (043) 702 2046. Find us on Facebook 17 June 2021 GO & EXPRESS
BCM’s major
ro a d w o r k s
project kicks off
Expansion project at Settlers Way, Military Road
MATTHEW FIELD
BCM executive mayor Xola
Pakati took part in a sod
turning ceremony
recently to launch the
expansion project at Settlers
Way and Military Road.
According to a statement
released by the municipality, the
Settlers Way R72 becomes
heavily congested during peak
hour traffic and this has resulted
in increased travel delays.
The project will focus on the
7.6km of road from the airport
intersection to the Fleet Street
intersection.
It will involve the
construction of an additional
lane on both Settlers Way and
Military Road, as well as the
upgrading of existing pavement
i n f ra s t r u c t u r e .
“This project will create
economic growth, increase
employment and the
participation of the small and
medium enterprises. One of the
aims is our people to benefit
❝
Our intention is for a
development that
will assist our people,
this is what we
committed to do
directly from what we seek to
do. Our intention is for a
development that will assist our
people, this is what we
committed to do but that will
not happen without us making
an effort,” Pakati said.
Enterprise management
office HOD Siyabonga Kakaza
said the project would result in a
number of economic benefits,
and many other ongoing
projects will benefit.
“This will employ more
people and increase household
earnings whilst attracting even
more investors to the city,”
Kakaza said.
BCM estimated that the
project will be complete in May
2023.
LET THE WORK
START: BCM
executive mayor
Xola Pakati takes
part in a sod -
turning
ceremony to
mark the start of
an extensive road
expansion
project P i c t u re :
BCM/ FACEBOOK
LIVE SHOW WINNERS
MUSICAL MAGIC: The GO!
& Express ran a three-week
competition in partnership
with Buffs Club, which saw
winners each receive a set of
double tickets to see
Georgetown performing live
at the club. Pictured here is
Week 1 winner Deon
Esterhuizen, right, with
girlfriend Mihlalikazi Vela, left,
and her sister Zikhona Vela.
Chantel Rawlins and Myrtle
Bhana were the winners of
Weeks 2 and 3, respectively
Picture: SUPPLIED
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Dry weekend ahead for BCM
MATTHEW FIELD
It looks like it's another cool but dry
winter weekend over in BCM, which
will do our struggling dams no favours.
It's nothing but blue skies on
Thursday, with 14km/h southerly winds
keeping the temperature down at a nottoo-unpleasant
22ºC.
This will drop to 20ºC on Friday, and
while an 18km/h wind from the West
will bring some light cloud, don't expect
anything to come from it.
The temperature will rise slightly to
21ºC on Saturday. The wind will swing
around to the North-East and blow at
22km/h, removing the previous day's
cloud and returning East London to blue
skies.
A heat spike is predicted for Sunday
and the temperature will shoot up to
27ºC. The wind will drop down to
11km/h and will now be blowing in
from the East.
Similar conditions are expected in
Qonce this weekend.
Like it's coastal sister city, expect
blue skies throughout this weekend with
Thursday starting things off with a 21ºC
maximum and 18km/h Westerly.
Friday will see a sharp drop in
temperature to a chilly 19ºC, with a
14km/h wind from the South adding to
the chill factor.
This won't last long and the
temperature will climb to a more
pleasant 23ºC on Saturday. The wind
will switch to the North-East although
speeds will remain mostly stable.
Also like East London, Qonce will
experience a sudden climb in
temperature come Sunday.
Temperatures will max out at 28ºC,
with a 18km/h Southerly wind ensuring
the skies remain clear.

GO! & EXPRESS 17 June 2021 For all your advertising needs call Cheryl (043) 702 2031. Find us on Facebook 5
New initiative to improve
early childhood literacy
MATTHEW FIELD
Anew initiative, recently
launched in East London,
Komani and Tsholomqa,
is looking to tackle the ongoing
lack of childhood literacy in the
area.
Yizani Sifunde ('Come let's
read') is funded by the Liberty
Community Trust in partnership
Reading and sharing stories with young children is vital
with three South African NGOS,
namely Nal'ibali, Book Dash
and Wordworks.
According to Nalibali CEO
Yandiswa Xhakaza, it is easier
for children to develop reading
skills when they engage with
stories in their mother tongue.
“Every one of us is a
storyteller in some form or
another, and reading and
storytelling could well turn out
to be South Africa’s secret
w e a p o n ,” Xhakaza said.
“Reading and sharing stories
with young children is vital in
laying the language foundations
they will need to learn to read
and write later on. It can also
help with cognitive and
emotional development.
“But the best of all, is
taking time out to read and
share stories with our children
simply feels good.”
The project will supply
100,000 storybooks written in
isiXhosa into local communities
as well as set up literacy-themed
learning programmes for both
children and caregivers.
Additional training will also
be provided to community
members to help them establish
extra-mural reading clubs.
“Ultimately, it aims to
significantly change the life
trajectory of the young children
it supports and remind parents,
educators, and community
members of their powerful and
authentic teaching roles,”
Xhakaza said.
Youth Day event
on importance
of prophylaxis in
preventing HIV
SIPHOSIHLE DYONASE
The Foundation for Professional
Development, together with
Desmond Tutu Health
Foundation and various
stakeholders, hosted a youth
empowerment session in
commemoration of Youth Day
at Scenery Park Community Hall
on Friday last week.
The aim of the event was to
educate young people around
the theme “Impilo yam,
luxanduva lwam; My health, my
r e s p o n s i b i l i t y.”
“The My Health, My
Responsibility awareness
campaign is a Youth Day
initiative to educate and
mobilize the Scenery Park and
Ndevana communities around
health-seeking behaviours,”
Ernesha Webb Mazinyo, who is
the head of department for
district health services at
Foundation for Professional
Development (FPD), said.
“Originally based on
outreach programmes aimed at
making PrEP (pre-exposure
prophylaxis) available to young
women to prevent them from
contracting HIV, the CABs
(Community Advisory Boards)
are hosting these events to
inform the communities about
health and social development
programs that are available to
support all people to make good
decisions about their health and
l i f e s t y l e .”
Mazinyo added that the
more people learn about PrEP
and how to use it, the better.
“The overall goal of our
community awareness
initiatives is to increase the
community’s knowledge of the
available programmes and
services offered.
“We are excited for the
youth to spread the awareness
to their peers and develop as
community leaders who can
become change agents for
health services in their
c o m m u n i t i e s ,” she said
Three young participants
from the Community Advisory
Board, known as PrEP
Champions, presented their
journey and experience with
taking PrEP.
STAYING SAFE: From left, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) champions Millisa Mfana, Nwabisa
Mfana and Busisiwe Ntwenkulu Picture: SIPHOSIHLE DYONASE
One of the champions,
Millisa Mfana spoke about the
challenges they encountered
from taking the PrEP pill.
“Initially the older
generation asked questions such
as ‘how come is there a
preventative pill for the virus but
there is no cure for it’.
“Some were saying negative
remarks like the pill will
damage the female internal
reproductive organs,” she said.
Mfana encouraged her
fellow peers to overcome the
none supporting beliefs from
society and do what is right for
t h e m s e l ve s .
Community Advisory Board
chairperson Neliswa
Mandla said the importance of
the event was to teach and show
young people on ways of taking
PrEP and who is eligible of using
the pill.
“Because they [young
people] have influence on each
other, some say it’s a way of
preventing STDs. So as
members of the community and
stakeholders came out to
support, we gave them
refreshments and caps.”
Wa rd
councillor’s
home razed
SIPHOSIHLE DYONASE
BCM ward 8 councillor Ayanda
Mapisa’s home in Duncan
Village was burnt to the
ground on Saturday morning
after allegedly being set alight
by unknown suspects.
Ward 8 covers the areas of
Fynbos, Gompo and parts of
Duncan Village.
“BCM is calling upon the
police to act swiftly in bringing
to book those behind the
torching of the home of its
c o u n c i l l o r,” said spokesperson
Samkelo Ngwenya.
Ngwenya said acts of crime
never be tolerated “under any
c i rc u m s t a n c e s ”.
“No amount of disagreement
should lead to crimes that
jeopardise the lives of our
public representatives and their
families. This act undermines
the gains of our freedom and we
call upon anyone with
information to assist the police.”
According to Ngwenya, the
Buffalo City Metro troika, which
includes the executive mayor,
deputy executive mayor,
council speaker and chief whip,
is in contact with Mapisa to
ensure that she gets all the
necessary support in this time of
need.
“Security assessment by state
agencies and investigations on
the cause and damages are
u n d e r way,” he said.

6 GOT A NEWS STORY? Call our news desk on (043) 702 2125 or (043) 702 2046. Find us on Facebook 17 June 2021 GO & EXPRESS
GO! SCHOOLS e-mail:
goexpress@arena.africa
graphic © seamartini / 123RF.com
... AND THE BEAT GOES ON
COMING SOON: Members
of the Merrifield Music and
Drama Departments, from
left to right, Nathan
Johannisen, Marc Williams
and Dwight Morrings stand at
the site where construction of
the new Merrifield Music
Centre will be built in the
coming weeks P i c t u re :
TARALYN MCLEAN
SIBLING STAMINA
ON TARGET
SPORT STARS:
Congratulations
to Merrifield
students Adam
Brown, Grade 6,
and Blake Brown,
Grade 8, for their
performance at
the EC World
Schools Biathlon
Champs. In the
U13 category,
Adam came
second overall,
fourth in running
and first in
swimming. In the
U15 category,
Blake came sixth
in running, first in
swimming, and
fifth overall
Picture: SUPPLIED
BULLSEYE: Tw o
Stirling High
School pupils
have shown off
their exemplary
archery skills
recently. Jared
Swart, pictured,
came first in the
recent NASP
I n t e r- S c h o o l
A rc h e r y
competition
while Caleb
Meistre came
second in the
African
Championships
held in Cairo.
This has earned
Meistre a
position on the
national team
which will
compete in the
upcoming World
Championships
Picture: SUPPLIED
BEST FRIENDS FUR-EVER
FEEDING FURRY
FRIENDS:
Clarendon High
School held an
Inter-Class Pet
Food Competition
and managed to
collect over 200kg
of pet food for Pet
Pals. Thank you to
every pupil who
donated and
congratulations to
grade 12 who
managed to collect
25 kg of pet food
on their own
Picture: SUPPLIED

GO! & EXPRESS 17 June 2021 For all your advertising needs call Cheryl (043) 702 2031. Find us on Facebook 7
HORSING AROUND
MEC silent on BCM
whistle-blower scandal
ASANDA NINI
NICE TO MEET YOU: A horse and cat investigate each other at Emerald Vale Breweries P i c t u re :
MATTHEW FIELD
Couple bust
for dealing in
marijuana
R15,000 fine each or five years imprisonment
SIPHOSIHLE DYONASE
Provincial head of the
H aw k s ’ Priority Crime
Investigation unit Major
General Obed Ngwenya praised
the East London Serious
Organised Crime Investigation
(SOCI) team, along with with
Crime Intelligence (CI), for
collecting evidence which led
to the conviction and
sentencing of Brenda Van
Heerden, 62, and her husband
Basil van Heerden, 61, on
multiple charges for dealing in
marijuana.
The couple were convicted
and sentenced by the East
London Regional court on
June 14.
It was reported that during
the period between April
16 and May 21, the SOCI team
worked with CI to execute an
operation regarding the two
suspects, who were selling
dagga to the members of the
community from their residence
in Chiselhurst.
Three purchases of dagga
were successfully executed at
the residence and, upon their
arrest, a further 899g of dagga
was found already packed for
selling purposes.
“Both accused were arrested
on May 21 and made their first
court appearance in East
London Magistrate court where
they were released on R1,000
bail each,” s a i d H aw k s
provincial spokesperson Yolisa
Mgolodela.
“The matter was remanded
to the June 29 but due to the
insistance of their legal
representative, the matter was
brought forward for finalisation,
hence the conviction and
sentencing on June 14.”
“They were both sentenced
to pay a fine of R15,000 or five
years imprisonment and in
addition, were each sentenced
to a further five years
imprisonment, suspended
for five years provided they are
not convicted for the same
offence again during their
suspension period.
“They were further declared
unfit to possess a firearm.”
A senior Buffalo City Metro
councillor has asked Cogta MEC
Xolile Nqatha to investigate
fellow ANC comrade and ward
36 councillor Bongiwe Sauli for
allegedly pocketing a R60,000
kickback from a service
provider in 2019.
Former metro council chief
whip Mzwandile Vaaibom, in a
letter to Nqatha, claims to have
been approached by a whistleblower
in the ward earlier in
2021 with allegations that Sauli
was involved in a corrupt deal.
Vaaibom, the metro's
mayoral committee member
responsible for economic
development, told Nqatha he
had seen bank statements
reflecting the period between
July and August 2019, which
showed that money was
allegedly transferred to the
wh i s t l e - b l ow e r ’s bank account,
and later to the ward
councillor’s account.
In a leaked letter dated
March 11, Vaaibom told the
MEC that the alleged kickback
was moved from the whistleb
l ow e r ’s to the councillor’s bank
account just hours after it had
been deposited on August 14
2019.
This happened while the
whistle-blower was in hospital
and the councillor allegedly had
access to his bank account.
Vaaibom called on Nqatha to
order a forensic probe into
Sauli’s alleged conduct.
Sauli is Vaaibom’s fellow
mayoral committee member
and is responsible for corporate
services.
On Monday, Sauli said she
was not aware of the letter to
Nqatha, nor the allegations
contained in it.
“Because I have not seen the
letter nor have any knowledge
about the allegations you say
are contained in it, I will not be
able to comment,” she said.
She later asked for questions
to be e-mailed to her for an indepth
response, but at the time
of writing on Monday she had
not replied.
Vaaibom on Monday
confirmed writing the letter to
Nqatha, saying this was after he
had been approached by a
Dimbaza township whistleblower,
who could not be
named as he could not be
reached for comment on
INTERVENTION: Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha is being asked to
investigate corruption by a BCM ward councillor
Picture: MARK ANDREWS
M o n d ay.
He said the allegations were
brought to his attention by the
whistle-blower in late 2020, and
earlier in 2021 he had been
asked to bring the matter to the
attention of the MEC.
“The whistle-blower told me
that, while he was in the
hospital in August 2019,
R60,000 was [allegedly]
deposited into his account by a
service provider who was
working on one of the projects
in the ward.
“He told me that at the time
he was very close to the ward
councillor and that she had
access to his bank account
while he was in hospital.
“He said the amount was
transferred from his account the
next day and [allegedly]
transferred to the councillor’s
account without his knowledge.
“The whistle-blower told me
that he discovered this after he
had left the hospital and
checked his bank account
statements, which he had
since forwarded to me,
showing the transactions,”
Vaaibom said.
He said the whistle-blower
had also informed him that the
matter had been reported to
metro council speaker
Humphrey Maxhegwana’s
office and to law enforcement
agencies.
Maxhegwana could not be
reached for comment.
Vaaibom said even though
he had sent the letter to Nqatha
in March, and recently sent a
reminder to his office, he was
yet to receive a response from
the MEC’s office.
Nqatha’s spokesperson,
Makhaya Komisa, could not be
reached for comment on
Monday. - DispatchLIVE
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8 GOT A NEWS STORY? Call our news desk on (043) 702 2125 or (043) 702 2046. Find us on Facebook 17 June 2021 GO & EXPRESS
Adopt a room at
Canaan Care Centre
Come on board with Go! & Express as part of your 67 minutes
WENDY KRETSCHMANN
Nelson Mandela
International Day or
Mandela Day as it has
come to be called provides a
unique opportunity for the
global community to offer
humanitarian aid to honour the
life and legacy of the late
Nelson Mandela ideally for 67
minutes on or around that day.
As part of our contribution,
Covid permitting, the GO! &
Express team will be painting
and decorating a room at
Canaan Care Centre.
This ties in with the Fit For
Logan campaign of which we
are sole media sponsors as we
strive to assist in raising funds
towards Logan Bartle’s medical
expenses, simultaneously
creating awareness about
❝We invite businesses
and individuals to
partner with us for
items such as pleather
or leather bean bags,
curtains, cupboard
handles, rugs, duvets
and more
cerebral palsy.
After our recent visit to the
centre, we were able to get a
better understanding of the
cognitive capabilities of the
children as well as how the
enhancement of a room would
benefit them.
Altogether, there are nine
bedrooms as well as a lounge
day room, outdoor area, training
room, storage area and staff
room that would benefit from a
personal touch.
Though six of the rooms
have been adopted, other
corporates are welcome to
come on board and adopt the
other rooms.
Our team will be
redecorating a room that
belongs to two girls who have
very low cognitive abilities and
we have been advised to keep
the décor simple.
Though we already have
some plans in mind, we are
inviting businesses and private
individuals to partner with us as
part of their own 67 minutes as
we meet the needs suggested
such as pleather or leather bean
bags, curtains, cupboard
handles, rugs, duvets and more.
Come on board...
To partner with the GO! &
Express team, please contact
Wendy Kretschmann on 072
738 2540 or e-mail
w e n dy k @ g o e x p r e s s . c o . z a
Or if you would like to adopt
a room or assist Canaan Care
Centre in other ways, please
contact Leigh Tebbutt on 083
778 7148 or via e-mail at
l i l l g y p s yow l @ g m a i l . c o m
To sponsor the participants
in the Fit for Logan Challenge,
visit www.goexpress.co.za and
click on the Fit For Logan
articles or contact any of us:
● Cheryl Larsen –
ch e r y l l @ g o e x p r e s s . c o . z a
● Wendy Kretschmann – 072-
738-2540 |
w e n dy k @ g o e x p r e s s . c o . z a
ROOM TO
IMPROVE:
The GO! &
E x p re s s
team will be
decorating a
girls’ room at
Canaan Care
C e n t re
P i c t u re :
Leigh Tebbutt
● Tubs Lingham 072-538-7968
● Caron Troskie 081-508-4874
| caron@linkfm.co.za
● Hayley Bartle – 060-895-
2306 |
h ay l e y b a r t l e 2 2 @ g m a i l . c o m
- The GO! & Express is the
sole print media sponsor of the
Fit for Logan Challenge.
R2.5m booze, delivery truck
hijacked in East London
NABBED: Suspected hijackers used a jammer to prevent a
truck’s tracker from sending out a signal to indicate the
location of the vehicle Picture: 123RF/RUSLAN IVANTSOV
STAFF REPORTER
Alcohol worth R2.5-million was
stolen during the brazen
hijacking of a liquor delivery
truck in East London.
A police source, who asked
not to be named as he is not
permitted to speak to the media,
said the truck driver was
accosted by armed assailants
shortly after leaving the depot in
Wi l s o n i a .
The incident happened last
Th u r s d ay.
“After leaving the firm the
hijackers forced him into a light
motor vehicle and drove him to
Fort Beaufort where the
hijackers dumped him. He
reported the matter to police.
“The truck was fitted with a
tracker, but the suspects used a
jamming device to jam the
signal. Information was received
that the liquor was taken to
Sterkstroom and offloaded at a
local nightclub.
“The truck was found
abandoned on the N6 close to
the Sterkstroom turn-off. It was
not damaged and the keys were
still in the ignition.”
According to a police officer,
four suspects were arrested after
they were found with suspected
stolen brandy in two locations
in the small town.
“The first suspect was
arrested in the Sonwabile
location where he was found
with a truck fully loaded with
Viceroy and Commando
b ra n dy.
“In town at a local nightclub,
more stashes of the same brands
were recovered both inside the
club and in two panel vans and
a bakkie. Three suspects,
including a club owner, were
a r r e s t e d ,” the officer said.
The officer said it was
believed the owner of the pub
was the mastermind behind the
hijacking. This, however, was
not how the court saw it.
“The three men turned state
witnesses and were released on
Friday. The [club owner]
appeared in court today
[Monday] but the case against
him was dismissed.”
A second police source said
more than 1,000 boxes of
brandy were recovered.
Distell media relations
officer Dennis Matsane
confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that the
incident took place and that the
matter is currently under
investigation by the police.
“The driver was not injured
and Distell is providing all the
necessary counselling support.”
Provincial police
spokesperson Brigadier
Tembinkosi Kinana did not
respond to a request for
comment.
In August 2020, Business
Day reported that a Distell plant
in Johannesburg was robbed of
truckloads of alcohol worth
about R1m.
Later, DispatchLIVE reported
on a brazen heist of a liquor
delivery truck by nine robbers
— three of them believed to be
police officers — which played
out on the N6 near
Macleantown. Liquor worth
R180,000 was stolen.
The Eastern Cape Liquor
Forum said hijacking of liquor
delivery trucks was a great
concern as it was perpetrated by
people with illegal trading
licences.
The forum’s secretarygeneral
Vuyani Mnyabiso said
local people who rented out
their trading licences were not
helping the situation.
“Those with no trading
papers are squeezing us out of
business because they use every
trick in the book to ensure that
they get stock at a very low or
no cost at all.
“We want the licences of
these two establishments
suspended until the
investigation into the matter is
c o n c l u d e d ,” Mnyabiso said. -
DispatchLIVE
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GO! & EXPRESS 17 June 2021 For all your advertising needs call Cheryl (043) 702 2031. Find us on Facebook 9
EL singer Zahara
fined for missing
court appearance
SIPHOSIHLE DYONASE
East London-born singer
and songwriter Bulelwa
Mkutukana, better known
by her stage name Zahara, was
found guilty by the
Johannesburg Commercial
Crimes Court for failing to
appear in the Palm Ridge
Specialised Commercial Crimes
Court in April.
Mkutukana failed to appear
in court on April 19 and the
court issued a warrant for her
arrest on that same day.
She then appeared in court
on June 7.
“The magistrate first heard
evidence for her failure to
appear in court in April.
Thereafter, the court proceeded
Faces charges related to non-submission of
personal and company income-tax returns
with the case where she is
charged in her personal
capacity, as well as a
representative of her company,
Zahara Trading (Pty) Ltd,” said
NPA regional spokesperson
Phindi Mjonondwane.
“In this case, she faces
charges related to nonsubmission
of personal and
company income-tax returns to
the South African Revenue
S e r v i c e .”
“'The state prosecutor,
Nerissa Reddy, argued that the
singer’s reasons for not
appearing in court were highly
unreasonable.
“She [Reddy] said
Mkutukana only appeared in
court when the commercial
crimes investigators began to
trace her whereabouts.”
Reddy reportedly argued that
Z a h a ra ’s celebrity status did not
give her immunity from facing
justice.
“Justice should be meted out
equally, as everyone is equal in
the eyes of the law and should
be treated as such,” she said.
“The magistrate warned her
to appear in court at the next
appearance date on June 25.
“The matter was postponed
for disclosure of the contents of
the docket to her legal
r e p r e s e n t a t ive ,” said
M j o n o n dwa n e .
“Her bail conditions were
that she must hand in her
passport to the commercial
crimes officers within 24 hours
and to report to the Roodepoort
Police Station twice weekly on
Tuesdays and Thursdays,
between 8am and 6pm,”
she said.
BUSTED: EL-born musician Zahara has been fined for failing to
make her court appearance Picture: ALON SKY
BCM dams
are still
struggling
MATTHEW FIELD
SIGNAL LOST:
A cellphone
tower in
Amalinda.
Telkom has
blamed poor
connectivity on
theft P i c t u re :
RANDELL
ROSKRUGE
The dire state of BCM’s dams
continues, with only one dam
reporting an increase in level
according to the latest figures
available from the department
of water sanitation.
The dam in question is
Gubu, which rose from 85.7
points to 87.7.
In contrast, Nahoon Dam
plunged 1.4 points to 40.6%
capacity, followed by Bridle
Drift which currently sits at
25.9% capacity.
Rooikrans also saw a drop,
although it remains comfortable
at 96.5% capacity.
The last two dams saw no
change in levels between
department readings.
Laing dam not only stayed at
99.6%, but it is also the
best performing dam in the
area.
Telkom urges community to support
all efforts to combat network theft
MATTHEW FIELD
Telkom has urged community
members to assist it in combating
theft at its base stations and towers,
which it blames for ongoing
connectivity problems experienced
by users.
According to Telkom, 2020 saw
the company lose nearly 8,000
batteries due to theft.
“Telkom could have built about
35 new base stations with the
money lost from battery theft. This
vandalism destroys back-up power
that should keep communications
active when lights go off,” they said.
Telkom said the theft could also
end up having negative impacts on
the country’s economy.
“Access to the Internet and the
❝We could have built
about 35 new base
stations with the money
lost from battery theft.
This vandalism destroys
back-up power that
should keep
communications active
when lights go off
mobile telephony are essential
services, even more so during the
coronavirus pandemic, and the
destruction of the towers destroys
these services as well.”
Companies that rely on stable
communications and internet
connections would be negatively
effected by the theft, and it disrupts
educational certain programmes,
especially for students forced to
learn from home.
“The result of poor Internet
connection, and often no calls, can
also negatively affect an event of a
life and death situation,” Te l k o m
said.
For example, someone needing
to urgently call for an ambulance
would be put at serious risk if the
system was to fail due to theft of vital
components.
“Communities need to stand
together in ensuring that the plague
of theft and vandalism does not
affect people’s lives further and
accessibility to a world that is
rapidly changing,” said Telkom.
Community members wishing to
report network vandalism, battery
theft or any inappropriate acts of
network fraud or sabotage can do so
in the following ways:
● Call the Telkom hotline at 080-
012-4000
● Visit the Be Honest website at
https://behonest.co.za/
● Add Telkom on WhatsApp at
081-222-5999
● Email
Te l k o m h o t l i n e @ b e h o n e s t . c o . z a
● SMS 48691
● Sending a post to Address:
BNT165, Brooklyn Square, 0075
● Alternatively, they can report the
issue to their local police station.

10 GOT A NEWS STORY? Call our news desk on (043) 702 2125 or (043) 702 2046. Find us on Facebook 17 June 2021 GO & EXPRESS
CLASSIFIEDS
Contact Cheryl Larsen on T: 082 432 5665
E: cheryll@goexpress.co.za
FAX: 086 545 2648
CLASSIFIED
INDEX
DOMESTIC ANNOUNCEMENTS
1010 Births
1040 Engagements
1050 Marriages
1070 Deaths
1100 In Memoriam
1220 Congrats / Best Wishes
1230 Birthday Greetings
1290 Thanks
PERSONAL
2070 Health & Beauty
2140 Lost
2142 Found
ENTERTAINMENT
3060 Entertainment General
SERVICE & SALES GUIDE
5010 Education & Tuition
5090 Plumbing
5100 Electrical Services
5120 Building Services
5122 Home Maintenance
5160 Walls / Fencing
5190 Painting / Decorating
5210 Pools, Spas, Accessories
5260 Computer Services
5360 Garden Services
5451 For Sale
5510 Kennels and Pets
5550 Misc Wanted
5570 Removals and Storage
5630 Services Offered
5640 Shuttle Services
EMPLOYMENT
6140 Education & Training
6150 Employment Wanted
6151 Employment
6170 Estate Agents
6370 Employment Wanted Domestic
ACCOMMODATION
7020 Accomm. Off / Wtd
7060 Flats to Let
7090 Houses to Let
7151 Holiday Accommodation
PROPERTY
8010 Flats For Sale
8050 Houses For Sale
8161 Business Premises To Let
8163 Business Premises For Sale
MOTORING
9070 Used Car Sales
9440 Motorcycles
9381 Motor Sundries
9640 Vehicles Wanted
9200 Used Bakkies / Panelvans
NOTICES
11010 Legal Notices / Auctions
11030 Businesses for Sale
5541
Under R300
2
PERSONAL
HOME VIDEO put on DVD
LP records put on CD
Cassette tape onto CD
Ph 043 748 3721 Mike
BRIDGING
CASH
while waiting for
PENSION/
PACKAGE
Payout (Lumpsum only)
Tel: 043 722 0980
076 475 2818
5
2230
SERVICES & SALES
GUIDE
5541
Under R300
BEDSIDE CABINET -
wooden - with open
shelf and cupboard shelf
R299.90. Phone 084 834
6128.
Personal BLACK & DECKER
horizontal drill stand -
2275
Loans & Finance
ANTIQUE jug and sugar
basin glass. R200. Please
contact 082 264 9421.
R50. Phone 084 834
6128.
BOOK: Patrick Holford
New Optimum Nutrition
Bible. R200. Phone 043
7265937.
BOOK: The Probiotics
Revolution by Dr Gary
Huffnagle. R200. Phone
043 7265937.
BOOKS:
books. 20 priced at R2,
R5 or R10 each. Phone
043-7436513.
BOWLS: Cereal bowls 4
R80. Phone 083 245
9613.
BREAD CUTTER - electric
R100. Phone 083 245
9613.
CAGE for budgie. R50.
Please contact 082 264
9421.
CAR SEAT: C
car seat. R299. Phone
072 906 3126.
CD RACK for 35 CDs.
Wooden. R50. Phone
084 834 6128.
for sale. Gospel.
Opera. And more. 10x
061 554 6891.
CERAMIC DISH with lid.
Round. R130. Please
contact 082 264 9421.
CHRISTENING MUG:.
Silver-plated. R100.
Phone 072 906 3126.
Under R300
5541
CHRISTMAS TREE: White
Christmas tree with decorations
and working
lights. R250. Phone. 083
245 9613.
CLOCK: Wall clock. R50.
Phone 083 245 9613.
COFFEE MUGS: 10 coffee
mugs. R100. Phone 083
245 9613.
CRAYONS - Box of crayons.
R50. Phone 083 245
9613.
CURTAINS: 2x dark green
lined long drops R190.
Please contact 082 264
9421.
CUSHION COVERS: New.
Different colours. R220
for 8. Please contact
082 264 9421.
CUTLERY: Box of knives
and forks. R100. Phone
083 245 9613.
DINNER SERVICE - White,
16 piece. R299. Please
contact 082 264 9421.
DUVET INNER: Single bed
and a 3/4 duvet inner
R270. Please contact
082 264 9421.
DUVET INNERS: 2x 3/4
plus 1 double bed size
duvet inners. Good condition.
R299. Please contact
082 264 9421.
GLASSES: Set of 6 Candy
Striped glasses. R30.
Phone 043 7265937.
GLASSES - Set of 8
champagne colour R40.
Phone 043-7265937.
GLASSWARE - Basket of
glasses. R150. Phone
083 245 9613.
GLASSWARE - Set of 6
Irish Coffee glasses -
R60. Phone 084 834
6128.
GRIDDLE: Salton flat
gourmet electric griddle
large used once. R299.
Please contact 082 264
9421.
JEWELLERY BOX: R150.
Phone 083 245 9613.
KARATE SUIT: R80.
Phone 043 7265937.
KENNEL for medium size
dog. R80. Phone 043-
7265937.
KETTLE: R20. Phone 083
245 9613.
KETTLES: 2x Glass (coffee
and tea). R60. Please
contact 082 264 9421.
MIRROR: Cheval in frame
on wheels. R100. Please
contact 082 264 9421.
MIXER: R80. Phone 083
245 9613.
NAIL DRYER: R75. Please
contact 082 264 9421.
NIGHT FRILLS: 3/4 bed
yellow and lime green
also x2 double bed night
frills, black and dark
green. R120 for all.
Please contact 082 264
9421.
PAPERBACKS: +- 25
Westerns. Most authors.
R10 each. Phone 043-
7436513.
PHILLIPS COLOUR
PRECISE MACHINE:
Brand new machine to
help colour hair for R135
excluding batteries.
Phone 078 216 7459.
PICTURE FRAMES: 4x
white gold border. New.
R80 the lot. Please contact
082 264 9421.
PICTURE FRAMES and
wooden cross. R150.
Phone 083 245 9613.
POPCORN MAKER - electric
R80. Phone 043-
7265937.
POTS AND PANS: R150.
Phone 083 245 9613.
SCISSORS JACK: New.
R100. Please contact
082 264 9421.
SHOES: Men's new shoes,
ex-Woolies. Black, laceup.
Brand new. Size 9.
R150 (pair). Phone 078
645 9160.
SHOES: Men's new shoes,
ex-Woolies. Black, laceup.
Brand new. Size 12.
R150 (pair). Phone 078
645 9160.
TOASTER: R40. Phone 083
245 9613.
Under R300
5541
SHOES: Men's new shoes,
ex-Woolies. Black, laceup.
Brand new. Size 11.
R150 (pair). Phone 078
645 9160.
SHOES: Men's new shoes,
ex-Woolies. Black, laceup.
Brand new. Size 10.
R150 (pair). Phone 078
645 9160.
SODA STREAM MACHINE
cooldrink machine with 1
litre bottle plus 2 full gas
bottles. R299. Please
contact 082 264 9421.
SPICE RACKS: 3x Wooden.
R85 the lot. Please
contact 082 264 9421.
STAINLESS STEEL legs for
coffee table R100 Phone
083 245 9613.
SWEATER DRYER net and
frame. R10. Phone 043-
7265937.
TEXT BOOKS: Electrical
Engineering text books
R50 for lot. Phone 043
7265937.
TUPPERWARE veggie
crisper - green R50.
Phone 084 834 6128.
5120
Building Services
5560
Repair / Services
GOOD
HOPE
APPLIANCES REPAIRS
PTY LTD: Quality repairs
to fridges and washing
machines. All work
guaranteed. Phone or
WhatsApp 072 914 9327
- Joseph Dhlamini. Shop
no. 3, 119 Windyridge
Road, Parkside
5121
Home Improvement
BUILDING PLANS DRAWN
Home & Comm. SACAP.
Large & small Entire SA
Kathy 082 939 8131 or
kathy@yourplans.co.za
5121
Home Improvement
DEREK'S ELECTRICAL:
Fault finding, repairs,
new installations. Prepaid
electricity and water metres
for sub lets supplied
and installed. Call Derek
082 557 4099.
5383
Moving / Storage
1.3 TON TRUCK for Hire.
Transportation services
offered for moving of
goods. House &
Business. Package
services available.
Competitive rates.
Sanet 071 787 2180 or
Danny 079 407 1979.
7
ACCOMMODATION
7020
Accomm. Off / Wtd
WEAVERS RETIREMENT
SHAREBLOCK Various
flats To Let or For Sale.
Persons between 50-80.
Call Elaine from 8-2pm
043-7029800 Prices have
been reduced Come see.
9
MOTORING
9640
Vehicle Wanted
WANTED FOR CASH
older model cars and
bakkie. Phone 082 722
0437.
A DOG’S LIFE: What sort of insights could old dogs teach us humans?
Picture: PIXABAY
Old dogs and
new tricks
REFLECTIONS
Charles Beningfield
Some while ago I read an interesting
article about a dog in Australia
called Maggie who died aged 30.
Maggie was a Kelpie who it is
estimated to have been 164 years
old in dog years and may even have
been the oldest dog ever.
She died in her bed in
Woolsthorpe, a small Australian
town. Brian McLaren, her owner,
said he had lost the documents to
prove that Maggie had reached 30
but said she joined the family when
his son, now 34, was just four years
old.
Because of this lack of
paperwork, Maggie’s record is
unofficial.
Officially, the world’s oldest dog
is “B l u e y,” an Australian cattle-dog
who died at 29 years and five
months in 1939, according to the
Guinness Book of World Records.
It seems most dogs live for eight
to 15 years and authentic records of
dogs living more than 20 years are
rare indeed.
As a matter of interest, according
to the American Kennel Club, the
commonly held belief that “one dog
year = seven human years” is a
my t h .
Sitting on my balcony one rare
warm evening recently, small
libation in hand to help stave off the
sour taste of the relentless wave of
malfeasance coming at us, l
whimsically resorted to imagining
what was going through the mind of
this dear old animal who had
reached the ripe old age of 164 dog
ye a r s .
Would she have had something
trenchant to say about the young
dogs of today? Did she put her
healthy old age down to the fact that
she never smoked, drank or
married?
In her old age maybe she was
thinking nostalgically of the days
when she was as sprightly a lady dog
as ever sniffed a lamp-post, when
the great sport was chasing motorcars
and seeing them speed away in
terror honking with fear and giving
the local cat a sporting run for its
money — as long as it kept on
running!
And those magical nights abroad
knocking over dustbins and enjoying
delicious snacks of fat-soaked
newspaper not to mention the
pleasure of rolling in something with
an indescribable odour which made
her feel exotic but seemed to revolt
her human companions.
And of her human companions,
what would she say?
Perhaps she would recall the
pleasure it gave her to take the old
man out for a walk every evening.
Those were pleasurable excursions
when the old man was able to yap at
other old men and salute the ladies.
And then there was the old lady
herself, a dear old soul who
produced food at the same time
every day and constantly
undermined her intelligence.
Her most endearing failing was
making up “doggie’s bed” e ve r y
night and watching in dismay as the
bed was dug up and arranged more
c o nve n i e n t l y.
But by and large Maggie would
have remembered humans as a
whole were harmless and welltrained
creatures. Her only
puzzlement in 164 dog years might
have been what useful purpose did
they serve.
❝Would Maggie have had something trenchant to
say about the young dogs of today? Did she put
her healthy old age down to the fact that she
never smoked, drank or married?

GO! & EXPRESS 17 June 2021 For all your advertising needs call Cheryl (043) 702 2031. Find us on Facebook 11
HOLE IN ONE: Themba
Gayiya, left, poses with
Gonubie Golf Club manager
Juan Bartlett after competing
in the Gonubie Golf Club
Championships last weekend.
Gayiya won both the A
Divison and Saturday
Stableford, came third in the
Sunday Bonus Bogey and was
awarded Best Nett Overall.
The full results are:
A Division
1st: Themba Gayiya
2nd: Louis Nel
3rd: Leon Joubert
B Division
1st: Tony Van Dyk
2nd: Eddie Schuch
3rd: Basil Tharrat
C Division
1st: Chris Nel
2nd: Rod Taylor
3rd: Cavill Hellier
Saturday Stableford
1st: Themba Gayiya
2nd: Dries Coetzee
3rd: Rudi Maartens
Sunday Bonus Bogey
1st: Tyron Henderson
2nd: Louis Nel
3rd: Themba Gayiya
Best Nett Overall
Themba Gayiya
Picture: SUPPLIED
IN THE SWING
Edge Fitness
donates
R5,000 to
EL SPCA
MATTHEW FIELD
Edge Fitness general manager
Zane Bernard is calling on East
Londoners to do their part
following a donation of R5,410
to the East London SPCA.
“We are busy building a gym
here [80 Bonza Bay Road] and
we thought it was a nice idea to
donate all our joining fees of
R20 per person to the SPCA,”
Bernard said.
Fees were collected
throughout the month of May
❝
No donation is too
small for the SPCA ...
I want to implore all
the people and
businesses, to either
equal or better ours
and officially handed over on
June 2.
“I just thought I’d try and
create a buzz around East
London because the SPCA is
really battling at the moment,”
he said.
“No donation is too small for
the SPCA.”
Bernard said he also wanted
to encourage others to follow
Edge Fitness’ example.
“I wanted to implore all the
people of East London, all the
small businesses and the big
businesses, to either equal or
better it,” he said.
The GO! & Express has
continuously reported on the
struggles being faced by the EL
SPCA, which were only made
worse by the ongoing Covid-19
pandemic.
- For more information,
contact Edge Fitness at 043-008-
5029 or the EL SPCA at 043-
745-1441.
Border Women’s
coach says team
is lacking focus
POSITION: Sales Executive
PUBLICATIONS: The GO&Express, Arena Community Titles & GO&ExpressLIVE
LOCATION: East London
Position Overview
ATHENKOSI TSOTSI
Border Women head coach
Nwabisa Ngxatu has questioned
her side’s focus following their
second loss of the season after
they were defeated by EP
Queens 12-8 on Saturday at
Police Park.
Border have been dominated
in their last two matches against
Western Province and EP
Queens.
This has been in stark
contrast to how they started the
Wo m e n ’s Premier Division,
where they collected four
consecutive wins.
However, in recent games,
the side from East London have
failed to get into fifth gear and it
was evident when they were
pinned down by EP in their last
e n c o u n t e r.
They were at sixes and
sevens, with EP camping in their
22 trying to cross over the white
line, which they did twice in the
final 10 minutes.
Border have lost the bite in
their attack and have been
lacklustre on the front foot.
Their trademark running
rugby with slick hands was
nowhere to be seen in their last
two games.
Two reasons could be
blamed for their slump.
One could be the moral
rocking loss to their rivals WP,
and the other the team missing
their influential stars in Lusanda
Dumke and Asithandile
Ntoyanto, who had to rest
because of Springboks
protocols.
The form Border is in has left
their coach dumbfounded and
questioning the attitude of her
side.
“The girls didn’t want to play.
I don’t know what was
happening they didn’t want to
play. They have it all but I don’t
know what went wrong,”
Ngxatu said.
“I told the girls we had to
change our attitude. I told them
it’s like we are starting a new
season and for us to be in a
good position like we were in
the first round, we had to win
the game.
“I don’t know if they won the
game before they played it, but
their body language before the
match was not good.
“The contracted players had
to rest, at least two in the game
— Dumke and Ntoyanto — and
it affected us,” the former
Springbok flanker said.
INTROSPECTION
NEEDED: Loose
head prop Yonela
Nginxolo, of
Border, runs into
Celine May, of
the EP Queens,
during their
match at Police
Park on Saturday
Picture: ALAN
EASON
Border are still in contention
for a place in the final as they
are in second place, but they
have the Boland Dames
breathing down their necks.
Border will travel to Loftus
Versfeld in Pretoria this
weekend to play the Blue Bulls
Ladies.
Ahead of their trip, Ngxatu
says they must rediscover their
focus to find the form they had
in the first half of the Women’s
Premier Division.
“We need to do
i n t r o s p e c t i o n ,” Ngxatu said.
“We must not be big-headed
because we won games in the
first round.
“We must stay focused and
remember we said our goal was
not to lose focus in the process.
Now we seem to be losing
focus. We must try to instil focus
in the girls again.” -
DispatchLIVE
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Please send your CV to: ecrecruitment@arena.africa
Closing date: Monday, 25th June 2021
À

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Border Women's Rugby needs work PAGE 11
SPORT
Gonubie Golf Championships PAGE 11
BCM Stars plan assault
Heading for
national
playoffs in
Mpumalanga
from June 28
to July 3
ATHENKOSI TSOTSI
BCM Stars head coach
Tshepo Motsoeneng says
planning will be key
ahead of the ABC Motsepe
League national playoffs after
they won the Eastern Cape
conference, by defeating Spear
of the Nation 3-1 on aggregate.
Stars and Spear finished top
of the A and B streams of the
Eastern Cape conference.
The first leg of their
provincial playoff encounter
was played on June 5 with BCM
Stars winning 2-0.
Then at the weekend the
teams met at the Mount Ayliff
Stadium for the second leg
which ended in a 1-1 draw.
This meant BCM Stars took
the honours 3-1 on aggregate to
be crowned Eastern Cape ABC
Motsepe League champions.
The team from East London
will now represent the province
in the national playoffs in
Mbombela, Mpumalanga from
June 28 to July 3.
In Motsoeneng, BCM Stars
boast a head coach who knows
his way around the ABC
Motsepe League playoffs.
Reaching the playoffs has
been hailed as a huge
LOOKING AHEAD: Head coach Tshepo Motsoeneng is
meticulously plotting a strategy for BCM Stars in the play-offs
Picture: GALLO IMAGES/ LEFTY SHIVAMBU
achievement by Motsoeneng,
considering the club was only
established in March.
“It was not easy. We had two
streams and everybody wanted
to win. The competition was a
lot stiffer than the normal
s e a s o n s ,” Motsoeneng said.
“For this team, it means a lot.
Remember this is a new team.
Anything is possible if you have
the right management and they
are pushing for the same thing
yo u ’re looking for.
“Whatever you ask for they
give you; we will reach our
target. Credit to management;
we appreciate the support we
have been getting. They have
the same vision as the coach
and the players.
“The playoffs are a different
ball game. Every time you go to
the playoffs it’s like a new
Launch Day
experience. You find people
who are eager, they want to
s u c c e e d ,” the former SuperSport
United goalkeeper said.
Motsoeneng was at the same
stage before with the now
liquidated Tornado FC. He also
helped Bizana Pondo Chiefs
gain promotion to the second
tier of SA soccer.
He will be hoping to achieve
the feat of gaining promotion in
back-to-back seasons.
Motsoeneng has already
started planning meticulously.
BCM Stars plan on having a
camp in Pretoria to acclimatise
to highveld conditions and will
have a full back room staff
complement in Mpumalanga.
“So our planning has to be
spot on in terms of how we
prepare the squad,” the 41-yearold
said. “We don’t have to burn
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them, we don’t have to overtrain
our players. We have to be
smart about how we go about
doing things.
“We need energy in order for
us to win those two games.
“The first two games are
important to win because they
take us to the semifinal. You
want to get to the semifinal with
energy because once you win
the semifinal, the club is
promoted to the GladAfrica
Championship.
“We ’ll make a plan,
hopefully, we’ll have a physio, a
fitness trainer to monitor, we
have to plan properly.
“Let’s have a doctor so any
sickness that arises will be dealt
with quickly; and let’s make
sure we win every game
p o s s i b l e ,” Motsoeneng said. -
DispatchLIVE
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